One Last Time(90)

Chapter Thirty-Six





Noah





“I understand, sir. I promise, I’ll be there by the end of the—”

“Day,” Paul my director tries to finish my sentence.

Yeah, that’s not happening. There’s no way in hell I’m leaving tonight. “Week.”

Paul groans. “Noah, we’ve worked together in the past, and this has never been an issue.”

“Which is why I’m asking for two days.” I push back.

Kristin is passed out on the couch with her feet in my lap. We got home about two hours ago from—hell, I don’t even know how to refer to it—her ex’s house, I guess, and she practically collapsed.

“Fine. Not an hour more than that, or I’m recasting your role and you can remember why you’ll never work in Hollywood again.” Paul disconnects the phone.

I sit here, looking at her, wondering how I’m going to leave again. Everything is a fucking mess, and I can’t go knowing she isn’t taken care of. However, Kristin is resistant to any form of help.

Well, help she knows about.

This is for her own good, but it’s also for my peace of mind. I want to care for her. I need to give her back what I took.

I send out a few emails and get things rolling. I have two days to spend as much time with her as I can and get back a little of what we lost.

“Daddy, do you know that kids grow more in the spring?” Aubrey’s little voice comes through the walls from outside. I rub Kristin’s leg, but she doesn’t move. “And that horses sleep standing up? Oh, and did you know that a group of whales are called a pod?” She fires off more. I move Kristin’s feet and head to the door.

“Did you know little sisters are the most annoying people ever?” Finn says, and I have to stop myself from laughing.

“Are not!”

“Enough fighting,” Scott says as I pull the door open.

“Noah!” Aubrey yells and rushes forward. “Did you feed the animals?”

I chuckle and squat in front of her. “I did. They were hungry.”

“I know.” She huffs dramatically. “I had to do it myself because you were not here.”

Seriously, this kid is the cutest thing that was ever created. I don’t think anyone stands a chance against her powers. She’s going to be big trouble when she sets her sights on some boy.

“I’ll do better next time, I promise.”

She sees something behind me and bolts. “Mommy!”

I stand and watch as Aubrey practically belly flops on top of her mother. “Hi there, Aub.” Kristin’s voice is hoarse from sleeping and the six-year-old who just knocked the wind out of her.

“What’s up, Finn?” I smile, and he fist bumps me.

“S’up.”

Scott stands there, and he’s the one who looks uncomfortable this time. He’s lucky those kids are his. If they weren’t, I’d beat the shit out of him. He isn’t worth it, though. I will, however, be happy to watch Kristin take his stupid ass back to court if she wants. One slipup is all it will take.

“Scott,” I say, extending my hand.

I can feel Finn watching. I’m not ever going to let him see me as less than the man I was raised to be. My father may have been gone, but if my mother ever met someone and he disrespected him, I’d never forget it. A boy, no matter how he acts, wants his father around.

I was able to hide my feelings pretty well as a kid. It didn’t stop me from wishing he’d come back on my birthday or writing it on my Christmas list.

Tough kids hurt the deepest at heart.

Scott places his hand in mine. “Noah.”

Kristin’s hand slides up my arm and comes to rest on my shoulder. It’s the most she’s touched me in front of the kids. “Thanks for bringing them home. I’ll see you in a few days.”

I go to shut the door, but he stops it. “She’s packing now. Just so you know. I found out she was never pregnant and . . .”

“Okay then.” Kristin nods and closes the door with a soft click.

“You okay?” I ask.

“I’m fine. Sorry I fell asleep.”

“Don’t be,” I assure her.

In the car home, she was quiet, but I’ve learned she needs that time. Kristin spent a lot of her marriage in her head, and bit by bit, I’ll get her to come out from there. She doesn’t have to be afraid with me. Just the same as I’m going to have to remember she isn’t like everyone else.

“How long are you here for?” she asks with sadness in her eyes. “We didn’t even talk about that . . .”

“I have two days, sweetheart,” I tell her as I touch her cheek.

“Damn.”

I feel her pain. The last thing I want to do is leave. However, before I do, I have a lot of shit to take care of. Speaking of which . . .

“Where’s your phone?” I ask.

“My phone?”

I raise my brow. “Yes, the phone that got a lot of trouble started.”

She grimaces. “That phone.”

Kristin walks over to her purse and hands it to me. I don’t say anything. I grab my keys to the rental car and head out the door.